Present Laughter

They say, it’s lonely at the top. Once an athlete, an entertainer, or actor gets to a certain point of prestige (and even a certain age) it can often be too much to handle. This lack of having a grip on things can stem from anything to having many love affairs, responsibilities that never used to exist, and constantly being surrounded by people that are fake and never really knowing who is there for real, or just for personal gain. Back in 1942, Noel Coward debuted a play about this titled Present Laugher, meant to be a semi-autobiographical take on his own experience that he wrote and starred in. In 2017, it was revived at the St. James Theater in New York, now streaming on Broadway HD.

Present Laughter follows middle-aged English actor Gary Essendine. Gary is all but counting down the days before he leaves England to go and do a tour of Africa. He’s essentially in a midlife crisis with more on his plate than he’d prefer. He has a less than positive attitude about his work as a stage actor, has to deal with an erratic playwright, keep secrets for others that he wants no part of, and confront the plight of the women in his life whom he’s either working with, sleeping with, or used to sleep with. All is not well in another day in the life of Gary Essendine, though ironically enough this is what makes the play funny and worthy of its watch.

Present Laughter is live theatre at its finest. All of the moving parts power the big machine in an astoundingly professional approach that will leave viewers in awe of how well it’s put together.

Two time Tony winning actor Kevin Kline returns to the stage in the leading role of Gary, and carries the weight of the entire production. His comedy stems from both his physical prowess and his quick witted line delivery, not to mention his overall non-enthusiastic attitude about everything going on around him. Sitcom fans who’ve yet to see the show will also recognize a familiar favourite in that of Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) in the role of the charming and seductive Joanna, as she shows a different side of herself with her subtle provocation and clever feminine wiles.  The set is also a clear winner, as the design of the Gary’s London flat is immaculately detailed and beautifully built. Directed for the stage by Mortiz von Stuelpnagel and then for the screen by David Horn, the show is a complete comedic farce teaming with physical comedy, hilarious dialogue, and a high energy from the entire cast that paces the show to an intense level of maximum hilarity.

Present Laughter is live theatre at its finest. All of the moving parts power the big machine in an astoundingly professional approach that will leave viewers in awe of how well it’s put together. It is easy to follow, effortless to watch, and a joy to behold. Broadway HD is still streaming it, so don’t miss the chance to watch and hopefully enjoy this ensemble production that gives many of the Broadway shows of today a run for their money.